Thursday
July 29, 2010
Senator Evan Bayh to retire
On Feb. 15, U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind. announced his retirement from public office. His announcement was a surprise to his party, leaving the Indiana Democratic party shocked and far behind.
Recent polls show that Bayh was the strongest candidate, and he has never lost an election for public office.
His public career began in 1986 as secretary of the state for Indiana. He won with ease for Indiana governor in 1998 and 1992. In 1998 he ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate, and he has been there until now.
In fact, just one week before his announcement, Bayh’s reelection campaign manager, Dan Parker, made it clear that Bayh would seek another term in the U.S. Senate. Democrats also released a poll showing Bayh comfortably ahead of former U.S. Senator Dan Coates and U.S. Representative John Hostettler, who are only two out of the four Republicans running.
Much speculation has risen as to why Bayh decided to not seek reelection; however, Sen. Bayh prides himself on being the middle-line Democrat, and that extreme partisanship is to blame for his retirement.
Bayh made it clear that he doesn’t “love Congress,” and that the partisanship is only hurting Americans.
“Just last week, a major piece of legislation to create jobs fell apart amid complaints from both the left and right,” said Bayh. “All of this and much more has led me to believe that there are better ways to serve my fellow citizens, my beloved state and our nation than continued service in Congress.”
Bayh also mentioned that he would start his own business in the private sector once his retirement is official.
“If I could help create one job in the private sector, it would be one more than Congress has created in the last six months,” said Bayh.
Dr. David Bartley is the division chair of social sciences at Indiana Wesleyan University, and he believes that Bayh has plans that don’t necessarily match up to what Bayh said.
“My first suspicion is that Bayh was given inside information as to what President Obama had planned with health care,” said Bartley. “Good bye Joe Biden as vice president.”
But according to Bayh, “I simply believe I can best contribute to society in another way: creating jobs by helping grow a business, helping guide an institution of higher learning or helping run a worthy charitable endeavor.”
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